Latest Revision: November 2024

Age divisions for IBTF disciplines are different than CBTF age divisions, and an athlete's competing age is also determined differently. Please refer to the corresponding IBTF Rulebook for IBTF rules.

The IBTF competition program is divided into a two-year cycle, Technical Disciplines and Freestyle disciplines:

• In the Technical Disciplines year, the disciplines are: Solo, 2Baton, 3Baton, X-Strut, Artistic Twirl, Duet, Artistic Pair, Artistic Team, DanceTwirl Team, Twirl Team, Artistic Group, and Twirling Corps
• In the Freestyle Disciplines year, the disciplines are: Freestyle Solo, Freestyle Pair, Freestyle Team

NOTE: IBTF also offers Majorette disciplines. At this time, CBTF does not participate in these disciplines.

TECHNICAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP and NATIONS CUP

In the Technical Disciplines year of the IBTF Cycle, IBTF runs the IBTF Technical World Championship and Nations Cup competitions.

In that year of the IBTF Cycle, CBTF runs the TECHNICAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP and NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER, using IBTF Age Divisions, Age Determination, and Minimum Age as established by IBTF.

The 'IBTF Major Events' (refer to the Major, Minor, and Unofficial Events page for the list) are not offered at the Canadian Winner/Championship. They may be offered at the Maple Leaf Open, at the discretion of the Competition Director.

In any year, at Open competitions, the 'IBTF Major Events' (refer to the Major, Minor, and Unofficial Events page for the list) may be offered using IBTF Age Divisions, Age Determination, and Minimum Age as established by IBTF for their upcoming Technical World Championship and Nations Cup. If IBTF has not published its rulebook for the upcoming competition, the IBTF rules in the rulebook for the previous Technical World Championship and Nations Cup are used.

Always refer to the IBTF Rulebook for specific details on IBTF Age Divisions. Please note that, beginning in 2025, the Technical World Championship competition uses different age divisions than the Technical Nations Cup competition in some discplines.

Age Determination

The competing age for the IBTF Technical World Championship and Nations Cup competitions is based on their age on December 31 of the calendar year of the competition. For example, for a competition held in August 2023, the athlete will compete based on the age they will be on December 31 2023.

Minimum Age

Athletes competing at the TECHNICAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP and NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER must be twelve (12) years old or older in the year of the IBTC competition they are qualifying for, as per IBTF minimum age requirements.

FREESTYLE WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIP and NATIONS CUP TRIALS

In the Freestyle Disciplines year of the IBTF Cycle, the IBTF runs the IBTF Freestyle World Championship and Nations Cup competitions.

CBTF runs the FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP and NATIONS CUP TRIALS, using IBTF Age Divisions, Age Determination, and Minimum Age (with an exception noted below) as established by IBTF.

At any CBTF-sanctioned competition other than the Freestyle Trials, the Freestyle Solo and Freestyle Pair disciplines will use the following Age Divisions and Levels:

• Level A
  • Athletes compete using IBTF Age Divisions, and IBTF Age Determination
• Level BA and Level BI
  • Athletes compete using CBTF Age Divisions, and CBTF Age Determination

Always refer to the IBTF Rulebook for specific details on IBTF Age Divisions.

Age Determination

The competing age for the IBTF Freestyle World Championship and Nations Cup competitions is based on their age on December 31 of the calendar year of the competition. For example, for a competition held in August 2024, the athlete will compete based on the age they will be on December 31 2024.

Minimum Age

Athletes 7 years old and over shall be permitted to compete in the Canadian Freestyle Trials. However, qualifying athletes will only be able to compete at the IBTF Freestyle World Championship and Nations Cup if they are 12 years old in the year of the competition as per the IBTF minimum age requirements.

Should an athlete/pair who does not meet the IBTF minimum age requirements finish in one of the qualifying positions, they are not eligible to compete at the IBTF Freestyle World Championship and Nations Cup. All athletes/pairs move up in ranking to fill the vacancy.

Should an athlete who who does not meet the IBTF minimum age requirements be a member of a qualifying Freestyle Team at the WFSC, the alternate (providing she/he meets the IBTF minimum age requirement)) shall take that athlete’s spot on the Freestyle Team.